What’s in a Roast?

11Jul

When I first started drinking coffee, every trip to the local coffee house was a bit of a conundrum. I was confused and a bit overwhelmed about all the different kind of roasts and what they were and how they would taste. Through trial and error I eventually found my favorite roasts, but to this day I still find a roast on a menu board that I have never tried and never really heard of. So, for all you beginner coffee drinkers looking for some clarification or for the veteran drinker still looking for some clarification here is a little guide to different types of roasts and what they taste like.

Dark Roasts:

-Have a fuller flavor

-Beans are roasted approximately 14-15 minutes

-Tastes include smoky flavors

-Examples of dark roasts include

* “Italian Roast” or “Dark French Roast”:

-Dark and oily to look at

-Has a stronger burned taste

* “Spanish Roast”:

-Almost black in color

-Charcoal undertones

Medium Dark Roasts:

-Have a more natural flavor due to the natural oils of the bean being brought to the surface